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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| M4 crash survivor still critical | M4 crash survivor still critical |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An 18-year-old man remains critically ill following a head-on crash on the M4 at Newport in which five other people were killed. | An 18-year-old man remains critically ill following a head-on crash on the M4 at Newport in which five other people were killed. |
| The collision at 0320 BST on Monday happened minutes after police broke off pursuit of the Ford Mondeo he was travelling in. | The collision at 0320 BST on Monday happened minutes after police broke off pursuit of the Ford Mondeo he was travelling in. |
| Police and investigators have appealed for witnesses to the incident. | Police and investigators have appealed for witnesses to the incident. |
| The teenager, the only survivor, is in the Royal Gwent Hospital and is in a critical but stable condition. | The teenager, the only survivor, is in the Royal Gwent Hospital and is in a critical but stable condition. |
| He was seriously injured when the Ford Mondeo containing four young men - said to have lived in the Maindee and Duffryn areas of Newport. One of those who died has now been named as 18-year-old Christopher Beresford. | |
| The identities of the five who died have not yet been confirmed | The identities of the five who died have not yet been confirmed |
| Their car hit a retired couple have been named as James and Bridget Stafford, who were in their early 70s and originally from Achill Island, off County Mayo in the Irish Republic. | Their car hit a retired couple have been named as James and Bridget Stafford, who were in their early 70s and originally from Achill Island, off County Mayo in the Irish Republic. |
| They had spent the summer in Ireland and were driving to their London home after getting off the Rosslare to Fishguard ferry. | They had spent the summer in Ireland and were driving to their London home after getting off the Rosslare to Fishguard ferry. |
| Achill priest Father Tom Kearney said: "It's a big blow to the community. James and Bridget spent their holidays on Achill every summer and had just said their goodbyes on Sunday morning." | Achill priest Father Tom Kearney said: "It's a big blow to the community. James and Bridget spent their holidays on Achill every summer and had just said their goodbyes on Sunday morning." |
| The couple's adult children live in Ireland as well as in the Croydon area of south London. | The couple's adult children live in Ireland as well as in the Croydon area of south London. |
| Hours after the crash, it emerged that police had tried to stop the Mondeo at nearby Penhow but abandoned any pursuit when the vehicle turned onto the M4 - in the wrong direction. | Hours after the crash, it emerged that police had tried to stop the Mondeo at nearby Penhow but abandoned any pursuit when the vehicle turned onto the M4 - in the wrong direction. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the collision. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the collision. |
| Flowers have been placed on a bridge overlooking the crash scene | Flowers have been placed on a bridge overlooking the crash scene |
| The motorway was closed - in both directions - for around 10 hours as investigators examined the crash scene on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 25 and 24. | The motorway was closed - in both directions - for around 10 hours as investigators examined the crash scene on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 25 and 24. |
| Monday morning rush hour traffic tailed back for up to seven miles with all main roads across south east Wales heavily congested. | Monday morning rush hour traffic tailed back for up to seven miles with all main roads across south east Wales heavily congested. |
| Superintendent Roger Morgan from Gwent Police said the road had to be closed for safety reasons after the "horrendous accident". | Superintendent Roger Morgan from Gwent Police said the road had to be closed for safety reasons after the "horrendous accident". |
| "To lose five people so needlessly is absolutely devastating, especially for the families and those who were close to them," he said. | "To lose five people so needlessly is absolutely devastating, especially for the families and those who were close to them," he said. |
| "Much comment has been made about closing the opposite carriageway," he said. | "Much comment has been made about closing the opposite carriageway," he said. |
| "Our experience tells us that when you're working at an incident like that on the motorway that people in the opposite carriageway slow down. | "Our experience tells us that when you're working at an incident like that on the motorway that people in the opposite carriageway slow down. |
| "The result can be further collision, further misery and further hold-ups in the long-run." | "The result can be further collision, further misery and further hold-ups in the long-run." |
| Meanwhile, later on Tuesday, the IPCC is due to publish a report which is expected to say that there is relatively little research into police road traffic. | Meanwhile, later on Tuesday, the IPCC is due to publish a report which is expected to say that there is relatively little research into police road traffic. |
| The police watchdog continues to appeal for information from anyone who saw a red Ford Mondeo travelling the wrong direction on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 near the Christchurch Road motorway bridge at around 0315 BST. | The police watchdog continues to appeal for information from anyone who saw a red Ford Mondeo travelling the wrong direction on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 near the Christchurch Road motorway bridge at around 0315 BST. |
| Witnesses are asked to call free phone 0800 096 9076 or email m4newport_incident@ipcc.gov.uk | Witnesses are asked to call free phone 0800 096 9076 or email m4newport_incident@ipcc.gov.uk |